
Rescue workers are continuing to scour the site of Saturday's devastating landslide in the north-western United States.

Search crews have worked day and night, using helicopters and laser imaging, since the slide happened on Saturday morning.

Officials admit there is little chance of finding any survivors at the site near Seattle, Washington.

Fourteen bodies have been recovered so far, and as many as 176 people are still unaccounted for.

Authorities said they expected the number of victims to be much lower than the number of missing people. Here a prayer service is held at a local church.

There were 49 buildings in the landslide's path, 25 of which were thought to have been permanent homes.

Most of the houses at the accident site in the small town of Oso were holiday homes.

Authorities say the landslide was caused by recent heavy rain. There were similar incidents in the area in 2006 and 1969.

The conditions remain treacherous and the threat of further landslides on Monday has slowed the rescue operation.

The thick mud covered a square mile (2.6 sq km) and was up to 40ft (12m) deep in places.

A geologist said the landslide had left behind a 600ft high cliff known as a head scarp.

The missing persons list includes several people who were driving through the area at the time of the slide.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee said the landslide had caused "devastation beyond imagination".

Water is now flowing again in the Stillaguamish river, which runs through the town, lessening the chance of flooding.